'Best time' to water plants to keep your garden 'flourishing' in a heatwave

Tending to your garden in the summer can be quite the task, especially when it comes to ensuring your plants get enough H2O. It's not just the quantity that matters – timing is crucial for watering your green friends.

Whether you're nurturingflowers in your beds or growing veggies, getting the watering schedule right can make all the difference between a thriving garden and one that's struggling. Hozelock's Sarah Dixon points out that during extreme summer heat, plants can be "struggling to survive".

But she suggests that by watering at the "right time of day", gardeners could help their plants "survive a heatwave and continue to flourish". This news comes after a man claimed'My neighbours made a petition to get rid of my dogs so kids can play in my garden'.

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So, what's the golden hour for watering? The Express wrote on Miracle-Gro's gardening expert Kate Turner, who advised: "I always recommend watering in the evening when asked when is the best time to water plants".

She explains that watering in the cooler evening means "the water has more of a chance to work its magic, without being evaporated by the heat of the day. This ensures the water gets down to the roots, helping the plant stay hydrated".

You can do this by avoiding evaporation and ensuring it reaches the roots to keep the plant quenched. Echoing this sentiment, David Andersen from David Andersen Garden Design says: "Particularly in the summer, the best time to water plants and vegetable patches is in the evening".

He notes that the cooler evening temperatures allow water to penetrate the soil and maintain moisture for longer. Sarah Dixon adds her voice to the chorus, recommending: "Watering your garden at the end of the day when the sun isn'tso hot.

"This will prevent water from being wasted through evaporation, which can leave your plants dehydrated," she added. When tending to your plants, it's crucial to water them thoroughly and directly at the root zone.

Method

Position the hose or watering can nozzle near the base of the plants, directing the flow towards the soil to minimise leaf dampness as much as possible. This ensures that every valuable drop goes straight to where it's needed most, right at the root level.

Soak each section completely before moving to the next. Then circle back and douse the area once more.

The initial watering softens the top layer of soil, allowing the second round of water to be absorbed more effectively on the return pass.